140 HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 
tools, containing various sizes of bradawls; a small gouge, 
chisels, etc., will be found very useful. 
Method of skinning a mammal.— When an animal is 
ready for skinning, the mouth, nostrils and shot holes, 
should be filled with cotton or tow. Place the animal upon 
its back, take the scalpel in the right hand and with the left 
separate the hair to the right and left in a line from the front 
of the pubis quite down to the vent, so that the skin beneath 
can be plainly seen. Make a longitudinal incision along the 
course, directed in as straight a line as possible, taking care 
not to cut so deep as to expose the intestines. The ski 
should then be turned back on either side with the aid of 
the scalpel, working downward toward the back. When the 
thigh has been laid bare sever it from the pelvis at its junc- 
tion with the femur or thigh bone. Layers of cotton or tow 
should, from time to time, be placed between the skin and 
body, as it will prevent the hair from being soiled. This 
operation should be repeated with the other side. Next the 
intestinal canal should be cut off a little way above the anus, 
and the tail separated close to the body. The skin should 
then be loosened from the back and breast until the forelegs 
are visible. Sever these at the shoulder joint or the base . 
of the humerus. Remove the skin from the neck and the 
back part of the skull will appear. In skinning over the - 
skull, care should be taken to sever the ears as close to it 
as possible; also not to injure the eyelids or cut too close - 
to the lips. The carcass should next be separated from the — 
skull at the first vertebrze, or the junction of the skull and — 
neck. The next operation is to remove the tongue, eye © 
and all the muscles attached to the head. Through an ope? — 
ing in the occipital bone, carefully clean out the brain. Next | 
the legs should be skinned quite down to the claws of the © 
feet, removing all muscles, but leaving the ligaments and 
. tendons of the knees. The hind legs should undergo the | 
same operation. Lastly, skin the tail as far back as the - 
_ first three joints of the vertebre, and to this stump fixa | 












